This weekend saw a landmark event, the very first EuroPride hosted by a former communist country.  Poland hosted the event which had it’s highlight last Saturday afternoon as several thousand people proudly paraded through Warsaw.

Polish politicians and church leaders regularly speak out against homosexuality and so the event organisers were making a statement by choosing this staunchly Roman Catholic country for the 2010 EuroPride.  To march in a pride parade is always empowering, to have taken part in an event like this must be inspiring to say the very least.  Several small “counter-demonstrations” were held along the route and eggs were thrown at the parade participants.  When you look at the pictures of the people who demonstrated they have their faces covered, what a dramatic different between them and the out and proud marchers who show their faces for the world to see.  It seems the demonstrators are the ones with something to be ashamed of.

50,000 people signed a petition to have the event cancelled and so you have to look at those who marched and take your hat off to them.  Walking up O’Connell Street is one thing but to walk through those demonstrators knowing that thousands of people are against you takes real courage.  The parade may have been smaller than EuroPrides held elsewhere but dare I say it was much bigger in all the ways that count.  This parade marked thousands of people taking a stand and declaring that we all deserve the same rights, isn’t that what pride is about?

Krzysztof Kliszczynski, a parade organiser, said

As soon as you go outside of Warsaw, homosexuality is still taboo, perceived as a danger…Gays and lesbians are being attacked on the streets

In true Pride style there was a concert held after the parade at Dom Słowa Polskiego.  Lots of music and fun had by everyone who attended and how well deserved it was too.  Well done to everyone who took part in this wonderful occasion.

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